Tag Archives: Sprint Cup Series

Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk – Monday, August 10, 2015

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Guests include, ARCA Racing Series driver, Grant Enfinger, at GMS Racing as he talks about his win at Berlin Raceway and contending for the 2015 championship.

NASCAR K&N East driver, Scott Heckert, at HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks talks about picking up his second consecutive victory at Watkins Glen International this past weekend.

NASCAR Whelen All-American driver, Riley Herbst, talks about his 2015 season racing Speed Trucks and Late-Models at Irwindale Speedway.

Join host Sharon Burton and co-host Sal Sigala every Monday night 8:30 to 10 pm ET as we bring fans the smartest racing talk around on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk! Joining us is Fan4Racing writer, Zach Roethlisberger.

NASCAR Hot Topic Sound Off  is 10 to 10:30 pm ET with Sharon Burton hosting an interactive discussion with co-host Chris Knight. We’re chatting about the hottest topics from the weekend of NASCAR racing at Watkins Glen International for the XFINITY, Sprint Cup Series and K&N East, as well as the ARCA Racing Series at Berlin Raceway. The Camping World Truck Series return to action at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.

Listen to our panel discussion with drivers, crew, and other racing personalities. Call 714-202-9918 OR tweet @Fan4RacingSite @Sal_Sigala @Knighter01 or @ZRoethlisberger.

Check Out Sports Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio
with Fan vs Fan Radio Network on BlogTalkRadio

Our show begins at 8:30 pm ET on Monday, August 10, 2015.

As always…Thanks for Listening!

NASCAR Legend Buddy Baker Passes Away at 74

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Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

Baker’s NASCAR Career as Driver and Broadcaster Spanned Parts of Seven Decades

Elzie Wylie “Buddy” Baker Jr., the 1980 Daytona 500 champion and famed NASCAR commentator, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 74 (b. 1-25-41).

At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Buddy Baker was often called the ‘Gentle Giant,’ though the nickname ‘Leadfoot’ was more àpropos due to the blistering speeds he often achieved during his 33-year career.

In 1970, Baker became the first driver to eclipse the 200-mph mark on a closed course while testing at Talladega Superspeedway. Although he didn’t win at the 2.66-mile superspeedway that year, Baker visited Talladega Victory Lane four times throughout his stellar career.

A race commentator and radio host during a lengthy and prolific post-racing career, the Charlotte, North Carolina native’s biggest win came in the 1980 Daytona 500. He finished with an average race speed of 177.602 mph – a track record that still stands.

“Many of today’s fans may know Buddy Baker as one of the greatest storytellers in the sport’s history, a unique skill that endeared him to millions,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “But those who witnessed his racing talent recognized Buddy as a fast and fierce competitor, setting speed records and winning on NASCAR’s biggest stages. It is that dual role that made Buddy an absolute treasure who will be missed dearly.”

Baker, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker, accumulated 19 wins in the premier series, including a victory in the 1970 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway where he lapped the rest of the field. In 1972-73, Baker became the first driver to win consecutive World 600s. He also won the inaugural preseason event now known as the Sprint Unlimited in 1979. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, and in 2014 was first nominated for inclusion into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

After retiring in 1992, Baker made a successful transition to the television booth as a commentator for The Nashville Network and CBS. He most recently served as a radio co-host on ‘Late Shift’ and ‘Tradin’ Paint’ for SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam Debate Continues

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SCS-Grand Slam-Crown Jewel

NASCAR is one of the most popular sports in the country, and the Sprint Cup Series is their cornerstone as the most élite series. The last ten races of the season, known as ‘The Chase,’ gives 16 Sprint Cup drivers a chance to earn the championship title. Only one driver walks away with the championship at the end of the season giving them prestige and elevating their status over all other drivers and teams for the next year.

But is there another chance to recognize a driver/team accomplishing what no other team or driver has done? Perhaps, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam is such an opportunity – when all four premium race victories earn that driver/team a historic Crown Jewel.

In the Sprint Cup Series a long-held debate that comes up nearly every year is the ‘what if’ speculation of honoring a driver/team for winning four prestige events, known as a Grand Slam.  Once again the time has come for the debate to continue discussing the pros and cons of honoring a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam recipient as well as, what races are worthy of inclusion.

Despite no driver being eligible for the grand slam crown jewel this particular season, it seems a reasonable debate in considering the future of the Sprint Cup Series, and perhaps making it an appealing quest for drivers and teams. This is an honor they can strive to earn, giving them recognition that is historic by virtue of the difficulty in winning the four select races of the Grand Slam.

And why not? A Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam would make these four key races even more fun to watch. But what makes this Grand Slam even more special is that, like the Triple Crown in horse racing, it would be rare to see a driver win all four races. Here are some suggestions for the first three races that should headline the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam.

The Daytona 500 is the first race of the season and would become the first leg of the four race Grand Slam feat.  The season opener at Daytona International Speedway is known as the Super Bowl of NASCAR and is already the most anticipated race of the Sprint Cup Series with the winner giving their team momentum heading into the rest of the season. Every driver dreams of becoming a Daytona 500 winner.

The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the schedule testing every driver and team’s endurance. For 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway, drivers race in varying race conditions starting in daylight and finishing at the end of the night under the lights. This race runs on the same day as IndyCar’s famous Indianapolis 500, and it should stay that way, since fans love to watch both races over the Memorial Day weekend.

The 400 miles at the Brickyard are at the most legendary track in America – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – and is a must for the third leg of the Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam. It’s a big track with long straightaways and corners that challenge drivers and teams to earn their victory. Drivers winning at Indianapolis relish their chance to kiss the famed yard of bricks with their family and team members at this historic track.

Here’s where deciding the fourth and last track of the Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam debate gets interesting with several possibilities to consider.  Should a road course such as Sonoma or Watkins Glen be added to the Grand Slam as the last leg? Or is a historic short track more valued with perhaps Darlington or Martinsville as potential tracks to complete the quad-fecta?  Should Richmond be a consideration as the last race of the regular season – or would the Chase qualification spot light take away from recognizing the Grand Slam Crown Jewel recipient?  Should the last race of the Grand Slam be decided before or during the Chase?

My personal choice for the fourth event is the Southern 500 at Darlington which is returning to its traditional Labor Day weekend this season.  This historic oval brings short track racing to the venue and is the week before Richmond, the last race of the regular season that reveals the 16 drivers eligible for the Chase.  That would give the Grand Slam winner their own spot light to enjoy their historic feat at one of the most storied tracks in the Sprint Cup Series. A Crown Jewel celebration seems a proper fit at Darlington Raceway – long thought of as a crown jewel on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Alright fans, it’s time for you to weigh in with your thoughts about a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Grand Slam. Yes or No?….and which track/race, in your opinion, should run the last event to honor the historic Quad-fecta Crown Jewel?

Joey Logano Completes Weekend Sweep with Sprint Cup Win at Watkins Glen

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A week after running out of fuel while leading with three laps left at Pocono, Joey Logano finished off an unprecedented weekend sweep at Watkins Glen International with his first road course victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Pressuring race leader Kevin Harvick over a 30-lap green-flag run to the finish of Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, Logano made the winning pass through the last two corners at the 2.45-mile road course as Harvick ran out of fuel in turn six. Continue reading →

Fan4Racing with Catchfence NASCAR Weekend Preview – Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Hey race fans, catch our NASCAR Weekend Preview with host Sharon Burton from Fan4Racing, co-host Chris Knight from Catchfence, and Fan4Racing writer, Zach Roethlisberger.

We’re chatting about all the hottest topics and what fans can expect at the track over the upcoming weekend of racing at Watkins Glen International with NASCAR K&N East, XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series, as well as the ARCA Racing Series and at Berlin Speedway. The Camping World Truck Series return to action next week at Michigan.

When possible, we’ll bring  guests from around the NASCAR world to give their perspective too.

This is an interactive show, so give us a call at 714-202-9918 to join the conversation or tweet us your questions/comments during the LIVE broadcast @Fan4RacingSite @Knighter01  or @ZRoethlisberger.